Coal-cutting machine



Jan. 26 1926.

G. RIMMER con. CUTTING MACHINE Filled June 21, 1922 Illu.. millilllllmw Patented Jen. 26, lil.

SLI

teni! BMF tender GILBERT RIMMER, OF LGNDON, ENGLAND, ASSGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM- PANY, GF CHICAG, ILLINOS.

COAL-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed June 21, 1922. Serial No. 569,860.

To n.72 unto/:i /zf may concer/mf lie it known that l, Grnninrr RIMMnn, a subject et the King' oi' England, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in Coal-Cutting' Machines, oi" which the following is a specitiration,

rl'his invention consists iu improvements in or relating; to embout-ting machines ot a well-ln'iown type in which the machine hauls itselt along; a chain termed the haut age-chain. The body or central section et the machine contains the source of power which generally is an air-driven turbine or an electric motor. A liront section attached to, or constitutiinql one end of the body, Contains the haulage mechanism and to or at the other end et the body is pivoted a jlb capable et beingslewed in a horizontal plane when the machine is in operation.

Round the margin ot the jib is driven an endless chain, termed the ciitterbhain, armed with cutting-tools or picks and tiaveliino,` in a horizontal plane. i

is' customary to utilize the haulagefch'oin, which is generally au ordinary looselink chain, to slew the jib, and it is an object ot' the present invention to provide means 'tor conneetingr the haulage-chain 'to they liib in auch a niannerthat it will be prevented i* un sagging and fouling' the tast-movingntti-br-chain should the haulage-chain become slack while `attached to the jib.

nrcan-ding to the present invention there employed 'tor this purpose a bridging cennector serving' as a continuation ot that end ot the haulage-chain which is to be connected to the jib, means operatively to engage the connector with the jib, said connector heino sutliciontly initlexible in a direction towards the jib as to prevent it sag- ;riun' in its own length so tar towards the futter-chain es to foul the latter and the length ol the connector beingl so chosen that both the connector and haulage-chain will :he kept clear ot the cutter-chain. Conveniently the connector comprises two or more links pivotally connected to one another euibto-end such for example as pitchchain or linkage) with the axis et pivoting transverse to the plane in which the cutterchain moves. Alternetivelyv the operative ronnection 'between the said bridgingconnector l the jib is such that the length of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan oi' the principal parts ot the coal-cutting machine necessary for the understanding of the present invention; i

Figure 2 is anL elevation of the shown in Figure l;

Figures 3 and l illustrate two detailed and specific constructions of the bridgingconnector; and

Figure 5 is a view, on au enlarged scale, lookingon the Jface et the hook of the connector illustrated in Figure el, that is to say as viewed from above in that figure.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the drawings.

Referring t0 Figures 1 and 2, the body or central section of the machine is indicated at 10 and contains the source of power. The front section referred to, and indicated at 1l, contains the haulage-mechanism, and at the other end a jib 12 is pivoted to slew about an axis 13.3 The cutter-chain 14 is iitted with coal-cutting tools or picks 15 and the cutter-chain, with its tools or picks, travels round the margin of the jib in a horizontal plane when the machine is in operation. The parts so far described are of ordinary and known construction.

`lin order to slew the jib 12, for example from the full-line position in Figure 1 to the diametrically opposite dotted-line position illustrated or to the intermediate dotted position .in which the jib extends end-on from the body 10, it is customary to utilize the usual haulage-chain 16 of an ordinary looselink character, that is to say a chain in which each link is free to swing freely in relation to its companion links invarious directions. Such a chain is flexible in each of two planes which are parallel and perpendicular to one another. This chain is utilized generally withy the aid ot a double-ended hook v(sometimes called a clevis) the free end of the haulage-chain being engaged with,

parts one end ol that hook and the other end of the hook being` engaged with a projection such as 17 on the jib at a point nea-r the inboard or heel end of the latter and above the plane in which the cutter-chain travels. Upon this hook is generally provided a horizontally-projecting pin to lie in anotch in the middle of the upper side of the jib projection 17. This pin and notch serve, under ordinary circumstances, to keep up the double-ended hook and the adjacent portion of the haulage-chain thatI is connected to it, so that the end of the haulage-chain is held above the level of the cutter-chain- But though the construction so far described has been found to operate satisfactorily so long as the haulage-chain is kept taut, it has been found that it cannot be relied upon to prevent the loose-link haulage-chain from sagging and becoming foul of the fast-moving cutter-chain when the haulage-chain is slackened. This slackening is more or `less unavoidable at times and it may for instance arise from breakage ot the haulage-chain or Jfrom its slipping out of recesses in a wheel or one of the wheels (shown in the part 11 in Figures 1 and 2) which is or are operated to haul upon it by the aforesaid source of power in the machine. As a consequence of this fouling series damage to the machine from jamming the rapidly running cutterchain and driving parts may result.

The `foregoing description concerns the general construction, operation and detects of coal-cutting machines of this type as hitherto used, and it is the object, as before stated, of the present invention to prevent the possibility of the haulage-chain fouling the cutter-chain.

In the present invention there is provided, as the tree end of the haulage-chain 16, a temporary or permanent length of chain 18 which, inthe example illustratedin Figures 1-3, is a pitch-chain in which the pivoting of adjacent links to one another is constrained so that the chain is substantially only flexible in one plane, that is to say in a plane normal to the axes of pivoting of the links.

lf Adesired theremay be, as clearly shown in Figure 3, on the partof the lpitch-chain which is lnear to that `end of it which engages the jib, ahorizontally-projecting pin 19 like that upon the clevis aforesaid to assist i'n keeping the -tree end of the pitchchain horizontal. Beyond lthe pin 19 the chain l18 is formed with'a hooked extremity 2O which engages with theside margin of the jib projectionv 17 yand the-pin 19 drops in a slot A21 formed inwardly vfrom the upper edge of the projection-17. l'Ilieco-operation of the `hooked extremity 20rand the pin 19 with the `parts of the projection 17 with whiolrtheyfengage serves to maintain Athe length ofchain 118in1a s ubstantiallyhorizontal position, that is to say parallel with the plane of the jib and cutter-chain. The length of the chain 18 is such that the other end of it, formed with a hook 22 to engage the loose-link haulage-chain, extends suii- 7 ciently far beyond the cutter-chain and its associated tools 15 that the chain 16, even should it become slack, will not foul the tools 15. This is shown clearly in Figure 2.

An alternative form of connector to replace the pitch-chain 18 is illustrated in Figures t and 5 and comprises a two-part linkage 23, 24e whereof the two parts are pivotally connected at T he part 24 herein is provided with a pin 19 and a similarly hooked portion 20 having a narrow nose 201 adapted to be received in the chain slot 2Gb on the machine trame, the connection oi the parts being such that the member 2e will be held against objectionable swinging by the extremity 20 and yet sufcient play will be present to permit the removal of the member 241- when desired. The part 23 is also shown to be formed at 22 with a means for attachment of it to the haulage-chain 16.

It will be understood that the connector comprising the pitch-chain 18 or the linkage 23, 24, though flexible in one plane, is stiff and virtually inflexible in any other.

rlhe links of the pitch-chain 18 er the linkage 23, 2l, may be so constructed and so engaged with one another that their flexibility, even in the one plane in which the chain or linkage is i'lexible, would be limited that is to say so that the pitch-chain or lin rage shall be free to curve as it winds round the end oi the machine in slewing the jib but so that in coming oli' the curved portion it shall uncurve into, say, a straight line and no further. ditional precaution against the sagging or movement of the chain into undesirable positions.

A lternatively the freev end nl. the connector may enter and tit a hole in the projection 17 so shaped (e. squared) as to limit the movenient of the connector in relation to il in such a ray that the connector su more out o the horizontal plane out its engagement with the jib to any material er;- tent. Thus, a projecting pin such as 19 may be squared to iii into a squared hole or ro cess such as is suggested above as an ex ample. Y l

A further alternative may he to substitute the pitch-chain or linkagge by i singlepiece rigid connector ot such length that even should it slew about its connection with the jib (for example about the axis ot the pin such as 19) to such an extent. that that This constitutes an ad- Cil til)

tor need not be of the length above described if means are afforded by which the slewing of the connector is prevented.

rlhe employment of a bridging-connector in any one of the forms according to this invention is a cheap and simple means of preventing the free end of the haulage-chain constituted thereby from fouling the cutter'- chain. rlhe construction of these coal-cutting machines is such that it has not been found to be practicable to employ, 'for the constraint of the jlb-actuating end of the haulage-chain, any projections from the machine itself. f

wWhile I have in this application specifically described certain forms which my 1nvention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

`lll/That l claim as my invention and desire secure by Letters Patent is l. A mining` machine including in combination, a pivoted cutter bar having' critters thereon, flexible means connectible to swing said bar, andy flexible means connectible thereto and to the bar and extending over the latter for inhibiting` conflict of said means with said cutters.

2. A mining' machine including in combination, a pivoted cutter bar having" cutters thereon, flexible means connectible to swing said bar, and flexible means connectible thereto and to the bar and extending over the latter for inhibiting conflict ofrsaid means with said cutters, said last mentioned means moving angularly with said bar.

A n'iining machine including in combination, a pi voted cutter bar having a cutter chain thereon, and flexible means connectible to swine.' said bar, and flexible means connectible thereto and to the bar and extending over the latter for inhibiting conflict of said means with said chain said last mentioned means being non-'flexible vertically.

Ll. A mining machine including in combination, a pivoted cutter bar having a cutter chain thereon, and flexible means connectible to swing said bar, and fl xible means connectible thereto and to the bar and extending over the latter for inhibiting conflict of said moans wit] said chain, said last mentioned means being non-liexible vertically and movable angularly with said bar.

5. A mining machine comprisingA a pivotally connected cutter chain carrying cutter bar and a flexible feeding member, and articulated means extending over said cutter chain between said member and bar for preventing fouling between said member and said cutter chain, the articulations in said means having vertical axes.

6. A mining machine including a. pivoted cutter bar and cutters thereon, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible feeding member and a flexible connection between the latter and said bar inflexible in a direction toward said cutters.

7. A mining machine including a pivoted cutter bar and a cutter cha-in on theiatter, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible feeding member and a flexible connection between the latter and said bar inflexible in a. direction toward said bar, and movable angularly with` said bar.

8. A mining machine including a pivoted cutter bar, and a cutter chain on the latter, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible portion and a sup plemental sectional portion connectible to said flexible portion and said bar and having provision for preventing conflict with said cutter chain.

9. A mining machine including in combination, a. pivoted cutter bar having cutters thereon, flexible means connectible lto swing said bar, and means for inhibiting conflict of said flexible means with said cut# ters including a flexible bridging connector serving as a continuation of said Hexible means, said connector comprising means operatively to engage said connector with said bar, and means preventing the flexiblel of said connector in a direction towards the bar.

10. A mining machine including in combination, a pivoted cutter bar having cutters thereon, flexible means connectible to swing said bar, and means for inhibting conflict` of said flexible meanswith said cutters including a flexible brideing connect-or serving as a continuation of said flexible means, said connector including means operatively to engage said connector with said bar, in a direction towards thev bar, and means 'for keeping slacl; in said flexible means away from the bar. l

ll. Aininng machine including in combination, a pivoted cutter bar having cut-ters thereon, flexible means connectible to swing said bar, and means for inhibiting the conflict of said flexible means with said cutters including an articulated bridging connector connected between said flexible means and bar comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected to one another end to end with the axis of pivoting transverse to the plane in which the cutters move.

12. A mining machine including in conn bination, a pivoted cutter bar having cutters thereon and having a portion provided with an aperture, flexible means connectible to swing said bal', and means for inhibiting conflict of said flexible means with said cutters including a flexible bridging iconnector connected between said flexible means and bar, and means operatively to engage said i connector with said cutter bar including a projecting portion formed on the connector cooperating with the aperture in the apertured portion of the bar whereby the length of the connection is held approximately parallel to the plane in which the cutters move.

13. A mining machine including a pivoted icutter baiI and a cutter chain on the latter, said machine having a portion providing a slot in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of bar swing, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible portion and a supplemental sectional portion connectible to said flexible portion and said bar, and having provision for preventing conflict with said cutter chain including` means for preventing flexing of said sectional portion in one direction and means engageable with said machine comprising an inwardly projecting portion formed on said sectional portion and engageable in said slot.

14. A mining machme including a pivoted cutter bar, and a cutter chain on the latter, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible portion and a supplemental sectional portion connectible to said flexible portion and said bar and having provision for preventing conflict with said cutter chain including means for preventing flexing said sectional portion in one direction and means engageable with said machine.

15. A mining machine including a pivoted cutter bar, and a cutter chain on the latter, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible portion and a supplemental sectional portion connectible to said flexible portion and said bar and having provision for preventing conflict with said cutter chain including means for preventing flexing said sectional portion in one direction and means engageable with said machine and including a pin carried by one Asection thereof.

1G. AA mining machine including a pivoted cutter bar and a cutter chain on the latter said bar having an upstanding abutV c thereon means for swinging the bar about its pivot including'a flexible port-ion, and a supplemental sectional portion connectible between said flexible portion and the upstanding abutment formed on said bar and having provision for preventing conflict with said cutter chain including means for preventing flexing of said sectional portion in a direction toward the plane of movement of said cutter chain.

17. A mining machine including a pivoted cutter bar and a cutter chain on the latter, and means for swinging said bar about its pivot including a flexible feeding member and a flexible connection comprising a closed link chain disposed between the later and said bar and inflexible in a direction toward said bai` and cutter chain.

18. A mining machine including a cutter bar movable in a substantially horizontal plane and a cutter chain thereon, means for moving said cutter bar including a flexible feeding member, and means comprising a flexible bridging connector extending over and beyond the path of the cutter chain and attach-able to the machine and to said flexible feeding member, said connector comprising means for inhibiting conflict of said flexible feeding member with said cutter chain.

19. A bridging connector for use as de scribed consisting of an elongated middle portion flexible in one plane and virtually inflexible in a plane perpendicular to said first plane and end pieces provided respectively with means adapted for connection to a part on a mining machine and to haulage means.

20. A bridging connector for use as described consisting of a plurality of articulated links flexible in one plane and virtuallv inflexible in a plane at right angles to said first plane, the end links being provided respectively with means adapted for connection to a part on a mining machine and to haulage means.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

Certiicate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,571,161, granted January 26, 1926, uponr the application of Gilbert Rirmner, of London, England, for an improvement in Coa1-Cutting Machines, errors appear in the printed specioaton requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 48, claim 3, after the Word chain insert a comma; same page, line 111, claim 10, after the Word bar insert the Words means .pre/venting the flez'ffng of said connector; page 4, line 53, claim 16, after the Word thereon insert a comma; saine page, line 68, claim 17, for the word later read latter; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the saine may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of March, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] l M. J L MOORE, Acting 'ommssz'oner l07 Patents. 

